How does one split ethernet connection?

Hello folks,

Apologies if this question sounds super basic. I have an issue with my wifi. The router is provided by the cable company, and almost everyone in the apartment block has same ISP and same type of router. There is so much conflict (that is my guess) with the signal that my own wi-fi is very poor. I get the full strength signal but occasionally it doesn't work. I am really fed up. I have decided to go wired.

My question is, if I go wired, do I still need a router? Can I just grab a cable from the cable box to ethernet switch like this one and split that internet connection to all my devices? Is there anything more than this one?

Many thanks for all the comments.

What about the router from the cable company. Does it have Ethernet Lan ports. Most have four.

Jim

Does the router provided by the company have ethernet slots? If so, just connect to one of them and that is it, no configuration needed. Since it is a cable company, I am guessing that the router connects to the "outside" using tv cable? If so, you will not be able to ditch it.

The connection comes as a coaxial cable, that goes in the TV box/modem. From that TV box, TV and Ethernet ports separate. Ethernet cable goes in the router. It has only few ports, one yellow where the ethernet cable from TV box goes. The other ports are occupied by Obi, Roku, TV. We still need 3 more ports for 3 laptops at home.

In ideal case, I would like to return the cable company's router, remove wifi altogether, and keep wired connection only. How do I achieve that?

You would have to buy your own gateway - meaning modem and router all in one device - making sure it's "compatible" with the ISP service. Most of them will come with wifi, but you can disable said wifi in the settings of the device.

Replace the ISP router with an 8-port router.

If you want to keep the ISP Router you can add a switch like from your 1st post.
Run a cable from a spare LAN port on the Router to your switch and you now have additional ports.
A Router is needed to control your LAN network.

Amazon.com: 8 port router


Jim

If you can access the admin console on your cable provided Wifi router. I would change the frequency from the default, which would be the same for everyone else using that modem, to a frequency in the middle of the list or near the bottom. Then the other wifi routers will not be stomping on your signal.

Unless the modem (the box the coaxial cable connects to with the single ethernet port out) contains a built in router with DHCP, then the next box after the modem needs to be a router. If the modem does have a built in router with DHCP, then you could get by with just a multi-port switch after it.

If you have a router after the modem and you need more ports, then you can add a switch or hub to one of those ports from the router to extend the network and you don't need any additional routers.

My home network is a cable modem - coax in, single ethernet out. Router with WiFi which has single ethernet in from modem, 4 ethernet ports out and the WiFi signal. My network attached storage plugs directly into the first router. The three other ports of the router all go to multi-port switches at different locations in my house that have stationary desktop computers and other stationary devices connected to them. The WiFi signal provides the connection for all the portable computers in my house - laptops, tablets and cell phones. My main router is in the basement. On the second floor in my daughter's bedroom where she needs ethernet for her TV is a WiFi bridge/repeater. That connects to my WiFi signal and produces 4 ethernet ports from the WiFi signal and also repeats the WiFi signal giving me good signal upstairs.

I currently run dual band WiFi - 600 Mbps on 2.4 ghz and 1300 Mbps on 5 ghz. Lucky I don't have any neighboring WiFi that is any concern to me. You can use the still free, older version of inSSIDer 3 to sniff the WiFi channels at your location and it will tell you what channel is the best to set your WiFi to:
inSSIDer 3.1.2.1 Download - TechSpot